2013 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay

2013 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay

I was at a beach side resort looking through the casual restaurant’s wine list and saw this wine that I hadn’t had in a while so decided to order it, although I’m not typically a Chardonnay fan…unless it’s old and French! It was just lovely on a warm night and not a buttery/oaky bomb, which […]

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Hearty Turkey Barley Soup

Hearty Turkey Barley Soup

This a rustic meal-in-a-bowl and perfect on a chilly winter day. It’s an easy way to use up turkey leftovers also. Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil ½ medium turnip, diced 1 large carrot, diced 2 celery stalks, diced 6 cups turkey stock, homemade ideally 2 cups cooked turkey, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 ¼ cups […]

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2019 NJ Wine & Food Festival

2019 NJ Wine & Food Festival

Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 New Jersey Wine & Food Festival (https://njwinefoodfest.com) at Crystal Springs Resort, taking place April 12 – 14. This prestigious showcase for top culinary talent, winemakers and distilleries from around the world is celebrating its 11th year with a weekend of dinners, wine and spirits tastings, chef demos […]

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Spuntino to Host Wines of France Dinner February 28

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas (http://spuntinowinebar.com) invites guests to enjoy its Wines of France Dinner at its location in the Clifton Commons on Thursday, February 28 at 7pm. To highlight some of the world-class wines produced in France, Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas is pairing a selection of French wines with a five-course […]

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The Pasta Shop Denville

I recently had the opportunity to finally check out The Pasta Shop (www.thepastashopdenville.com) in Denville, NJ and am so pleased to have such a great neighborhood spot near my home in Morris County. The Pasta Shop describes itself as a “fine casual eatery featuring handmade specialties and wood-fired Italian American classics” and the place is […]

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Warm Crab and Artichoke Dip

During the holidays, my mom hosted us and served a delicious hot crab and artichoke dip that was gooey, cheesy and indulgent. I’ve recreated the dip and served it during the Big Game last weekend and it was a hit! This recipe is a breeze to prepare, basically in one bowl, and can sit in […]

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Copycat Hooters Chicken Wings

My guy and I like Buffalo chicken wings and his favorites are the ones from Hooters (it’s about the wings, really lol). I’ve perfected their buffalo shrimp recipe (you must try them) and I think we now have a pretty great handle on their chicken wings. This recipe is for medium spicy Buffalo chicken wings […]

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2017 Gulp Hablo Garnacha

2017 Gulp Hablo Garnacha

I’m a fan of visiting boutique wine shops where professional advice leads to finding bottles that are gems. This is the case when I visit Amanti Vino in Morristown or Montclair, NJ (https://www.amantivino.com). Proprietor Sharon Sevrens has made recommendations over the years on bottles I wouldn’t have otherwise tried, always with great results. This time, […]

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2013 Alba Vineyard Cabernet Franc Heritage

About Alba Vineyard Alba Vineyard (www.albavineyard.com) is a 93-acre estate nestled in the rolling hills of Warren County, on the north side of the Musconetcong river valley, a tributary of the Delaware River. Alba is a part of the Warren Hills AVA and is situated in the central New Jersey town of Milford. I’ve written […]

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2014 Dirty & Rowdy Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvedre

About Dirty & Rowdy The Dirty (Hardy and Kate Wallace) and Rowdy (Matt and Amy Richardson) families came together for a simple purpose – make wines that they actually want to drink. In 2010, they did just that when they formed a small family partnership based in Sonoma, Dirty & Rowdy Family Winery (www.dirtyandrowdy.com), that […]

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